Union suit.



G. W. KELLY.

UNION SUIT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.27, 1914.

1,106,310. Patented Aug. 4, 1914 Fig. 1.

Witnesses. Inventor.

' mzwa Quad/M AIIys.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE w. KELLY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

uNIoN SUIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Application filed January 27, 1914. Serial No. 814,812.

4 open crotch portion was found to be of considerable inconvenience tothe wearer and in many instances did not fitproperly. In the later typesthe union garments have been provided with a crotch portion whichispermanently closed. In which case the front opening extends from theneck portion nearly to the crotch and a posterior opening is providedextending from about midway of the back to points in-the leg portions,

suitable flaps being provided for closing such opening. In garments ofthis character in which the crotch portion is permanently closedconsiderable inconvenience and discomfort has been experienced by thewearers by reason of the heating of the body thus confined and theaccumulation of moisture in the crotch portion of the garment, a opencrotch form of garment.

In some instances greater freedom has.

been provided in the closed crotch form by the insertion of a narrowgusset of elastic material across the crotch portion and down theinsides of the leg portions a considerable distance, but in such casesalso the contraction of the elastic material of the gusset when thegarment was in normal position on the wearer caused the meshes of thefabric to close up so as to confine the heatfrom the body with theunpleasant results aforesaid.

The especial object ofthe present invention is to provide suitable-meanswhereby such confinement of the heat of the body and the resultingaccumulation of moisture in the garment to thediscomfort of the wearermay be avoided without interfering with the appearance or'fit of thegarment.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a portion of a union suit embodyingmy invention the leg portions being spread apart to more clearlyillustrate the means for ventilating the crotch portion, Fig. 2 is abottomplan view of the same.

In the preferred form of invention illustrated herein the body portion 1of the union suit is provided with the usual front opening 2 extendingto the crotch portion and a posterior opening 3 extending upwardly fromthe crotch portion to a point about midway of the back and provided withthe usual flaps 4.- and 5 for closing the same.

The crotch portion is closed between the front opening 2 and theposterior opening 3 by a gusset 6 extending across the crotch and downtheinner'portion of each leg for a considerable distance, whichpreferably is formed of a strip of material which is elastic in thedirection of the length of the gusset but of relatively little easticity in the transverse direction to permit the stretching of thegusset in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1.

In order to provide free ventilation for the crotch portion for thepurposes heretofore stated the gusset 6 is provided with a plurality ofopenings of a permanent character. In the preferred form these openingsare formed in a knit fabric the wales of which extend transversely ofthe gusset and aredivided into groups 7 separated by lines of relativelylarge meshes 8 which will always remain open to afford a freecirculation of the air through this portion of the garment.

When the garment is worn and the gusset alternately stretched andpermitted to con tract as the wearer moves about the action of theelastic portions of the gusset intermediate of the open meshescauses agentle bellows like action which induces a circulation of air back andforth through the crotch portion of the garment and which aids inavoiding undue heating of the body and the consequent inconveniencesabove mentioned. 7

It is to be understood that the form of gusset and the particularcharacter of material of which the closed crotch ortion of the arment ismade as shown an described herein are illustrative merely and are notrestrictive and that other forms and materials may be used within thecontemplation of this invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by iotand having alternating sections provideci I0 ters Patentis:

' A union suit of textile material having a front opening and aposterior opening and a closed crotch portion between said 0 enings,comprising a gusset ofelastic knitted ,material extending across thecrotch portion, :tormeoi of structurally dierent material from the bodyportion of the garment,

with permanent relatively large openings.

In testimony whereof, I "have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses GEORGE W. KELLY. Witnesses:

WM. Roy GARNEY, L. JoHNsToNn, Jr;

